Georgia's outgoing president, Salome Zourabichvili, has made urgent appeals to the European Union to intervene and press for new elections amid significant political turmoil and civil unrest. Over the past few weeks, tens of thousands of civilians have taken to the streets of Georgia, protesting the governing Georgian Dream party's recent decision to suspend negotiations on joining the 27-nation EU. This turmoil has sparked concerns, as police have increasingly resorted to brute force and intimidation to quell these peaceful protests.
Addressing EU lawmakers during her speech on Wednesday, Zourabichvili asserted, "Europe needs to find the leverage to act. If Europe cannot exert leverage on a country of 3.7 million, how can it expect to compete with the giants of the 21st century?" These remarks were met with considerable applause, underscoring the urgency of her call.
The clashes between protesters and police come after the EU granted Georgia candidate status for membership back in December 2023. Yet, this progress was halted the following June due to the troubling passage of the so-called "foreign influence" law, which many perceive as detrimental to democratic freedoms. This controversial legislation led to the EU cutting financial support to the country. Recently, EU foreign ministers have agreed to impose visa restrictions on Georgian diplomats and government officials and are contemplating listing officials to sanction, though no consensus has been reached.
Zourabichvili criticized these measures as insufficient, urging the EU to leverage its position as Georgia's largest donor and economic partner. She emphasized, "If we are honest, Europe so far has not fully lived (up) to the moment. Europe has, so far, met the challenge halfway." During her speech, she highlighted the stakes involved, noting, "While European flags are being banned in Tbilisi, Georgians are still waiting for binding measures to come from Brussels and Washington."
Despite the government's tough stance, the protests persist, as Zourabichvili urged, "the street protests won't stop until Georgia gets a free and fair election." Some EU lawmakers even waved Georgian flags during her address, indicating solidarity with the protestors.
The situation has escalated since the elections held last October, which many claim were marred by Russian influence. The newly elected president, Mikheil Kavelashvili, is seen as part of the tightening grip the governing party has over the nation. Zourabichvili asserted, "Everything already in Georgia is controlled by the one party, or one-man rule. It is difficult to distinguish what remains outside of control.”
Zourabichvili's impassioned plea came on the eve of the EU leaders' summit, where discussions were expected to address the situation. A draft statement from EU leaders noted their disappointment at the government's decision to pause the EU accession process until 2028 and condemned the police's use of force against peaceful protestors. The statement also urged Georgian authorities to respect the rights of assembly and expression and to investigate all acts of violence, holding those responsible accountable.
Even as the EU's response remains tepid, Zourabichvili warned of dire consequences if decisive action is not taken soon: "We either go to elections, or we go somewhere...that will certainly be a crisis...that you will have to deal (with) in much direr conditions," she cautioned, reflecting on the potential deepening of the crisis.
The road to democracy and European integration for Georgia remains fraught with challenges. Zourabichvili's call for EU intervention is not only about securing fair elections but also about safeguarding the democratic future of the country. Her passionate address serves as both a rallying cry for Georgians and a stark reminder to the EU of its responsibility as Georgia's closest ally.
